Gender Links has developed a Gender and Media literacy course aimed at enhancing the ability of citizens to engage critically with media content. First piloted in South Africa in 2006, GL's Gender and Media Literacy course has since been replicated in thirteen SADC countries. The training has also targeted different groups including the general public, women in politics, school going learners and trainers.

GL is getting the course accredited with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). Skills and knowledge to be gained from this course include:
• Conceptual knowledge around gender and media
• Monitoring skills: quantitative and qualitative
• IT for media advocacy skills
• Writing skills
• Giving feedback to the media

A tool kit, "Watching the Watchdogs," has been developed to guide the course. It draws from research and training material developed over a number of years on gender and the Southern African media.

Regional In 2008 Gender Links rolled out the media literacy course in the SADC region. Four countries, Botswana, Mauritius, Namibia and Seychelles participated in the regional pilots that were conducted between June and October 2008. Different target groups benefited from these projects. Gender Links partnered with the Gender and Media Southern African Network (GEMSA) and the Gender and Media Diversity Centre (GMDC) to roll out the course. Click here for the report. The focus for 2009-2010 is on women in decision making as well as members of the general public in countries where the project is being piloted. The course has been extended to five new countries. Courses have been held in Botswana, DRC, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland and Zambia.
Botswana 2008: Report Participants project	DRC 2009: Report Participants projects	Lesotho 2011: Media literacy report, National University of Lesotho 2009: Report Participants projects
Malawi 2011: Media literacy training, Malawi Institute of Journalism Media literacy training, Malawi Polytechnic	Mozambique 2009/2010: Report	Mauritius 2008: Report Participants projects
Namibia 2008: Report Participants projects	South Africa 2011: Media Literacy for Women Informal Traders 2010: Media Literacy for Community Radio 2009: Media Literacy course 2008: Participants projects 2006: Reports and outputs	Swaziland 2009: Report Participants projects
Zambia 2009: Report Participants projects	Zimbabwe 2010: Media Literacy report, University of Science and Technology	Training Toolkit A tool kit, “Watching the Watchdogs,” has been developed to guide the course. It draws from research and training material developed over a number of years on gender and the Southern African media. Read more.